Breeding

BREEDING

The breeding sector is responsible for producing the racehorses that compete in Australian and overseas race meetings.

There are more than 6,770 active breeders in Australia, supported by more than 12,700 staff and volunteers. More than 67% of all breeders reside or operate in regional parts of Australia.

Breeders derive the majority of their income from the public and private sale of their stock, as well as through service fees. A strong breeding sector also has significant scope to generate economic impacts through export sales – particularly given Australia’s position as a world renowned quality racing jurisdiction. The potential returns are further enhanced by the shuttling of world-class stallions to other markets – the service fees from which result in economic benefits for the state/country of origin.

Thoroughbred breeding activity, related to the production of foals, is responsible for generating more than $935.2 million nationally. Essentially, breeders incur costs on the maintenance of broodmares, stallions, yearlings, weanlings and foals in the following areas:

+ feed
+ veterinarian, worming and supplements
+ travel and transport
+ infrastructure and maintenance
+ stabling
+ cleaning
+ yearling preparation and sales costs

In some instances, breeders incur all of these expenses themselves, whilst in other situations, breeders may send their horses to professional service providers.

In 2016/17, the sale of bloodstock at Australian thoroughbred auctions exceeded $584mil. Yearling sales amounted to just over $410mil of this amount.

Number of Breeders
METRO
REGIONAL
TOTAL
Australian Capital Territory
79
0
79
New South Wales
682
1,482
2,164
Northern Territory
22
12
34
Queensland
327
936
1,263
South Australia
123
254
377
Tasmania
79
93
172
Victoria
612
1,442
2,054
Western Australia
310
319
629
TOTAL
2,234
4,538
6,772
Australian Auction Sales Results 2016/17
NUMBER SOLD
GROSS SALES
AVERAGE
MEDIAN
Australian Capital Territory
823
$31mil
$38,303
$17,500
New South Wales
4,006
$411 mil
$102,829
$50,000
Northern Territory
365
$19 mil
$54,560
$40,000
Queensland
1,376
$123 mil
$90,085
$34,000

Key statistics

563 Stallions

METRO 56 
REGIONAL 507

19,174 Broodmares Covered

METRO 1,305
REGIONAL 17,869

13,062 Foals Produced

METRO 919 
REGIONAL 12,143

CASE STUDY:
BIRDSVILLE RACES

Attracting visitors from all over the world,
the Birdsville Races is an iconic Australian event which engages with the local community, connects volunteers and significantly contributes to the regional and broader Queensland economy. Complimenting this, the club raises much needed funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a partner of the Club for over 50 years.
The first race meeting in Birdsville was
conducted beside the Diamantina River, eight miles north of the South Australian border, in September 1882. Attended by station owners, managers, stockmen and their employees, the three-day event raised close to 200 pounds.
This iconic event features a range of
community engagement activities synonymous with major racing festivals including a cocktail party and fashions on the field competition. However Birdsville Races also features unique events such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service fun run and the Fred Brophy’s Boxing Troupe. These events, together with the two days of outback racing including the $35,000 Birdsville Races
Cup, attract an attendance of over 7,000 people – 58 times the town’s population!
The economic contribution that the event makes to the region, as well as other parts of Queensland, is significant. The event’s impact stretches beyond economics through the Club’s commitment to involve and engage with various community groups through the preparation and delivery of the Carnival. Overall, the club pays in excess of $200,000 in prizemoney over 13 races and in 2015 the event was responsible for generating more than 68,000 visitor nights and over $7 million in economic impact.
The Club is generously supported by more than 80 volunteers who contribute to all aspects of the operations of the event – including roles such as audio visual, hospitality, media support, selling merchandise and ticketing, staffing gates
and marshals, setup and pack down.
The National Australia Bank also supports
the Club – providing 15 much needed volunteers each year.
The Birdsville Races has had a long term partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the raceday and its associated activities has been an important driver of its fundraising efforts over many years. Through this partnership, money has been raised to provide medical services to people living in rural and remote areas of Australia.

CASE STUDY:
AN OFF THE TRACK SUCCESS STORY

One shining example of an Off The Track Thoroughbred in his new career is ‘Sea Sabre’, formerly ‘A Little Favour’, of South Australia. Sea Sabre was trained and owned by Mick Whittle who sadly passed away in 2016. Mick was well renowned for travelling and racing his horses throughout Australia.
Sea Sabre’s owner is now Judith Newton, who has successfully steered the ex-racer into a dressage and show jumping career. In 2017, Sea Sabre performed magnificently at South Australia’s  pinnacle show jumping championships event – emerging as winner of “Best Performed OTT Thoroughbred in the IRT Arena”.
Judith devised her new horse’s name from a childhood book – ‘Sabre, the Horse from the Sea’ – because she drew some parallels with the book’s horse character. In 2017 Judith wrote to Thoroughbred Racing SA to share their story and to tell people how rewarding it has been for her to take an Off The Track Thoroughbred into a new life. Following is an excerpt from Judith’s letter:
“Sabre has competed with me at dressage, eventing (one and three day) and of course show jumping. He has a super jump and a big heart to give everything a go. He lives out all year round and is happy with just a shelter and is paddocked with two miniature horses and my young Irish sport horse. He is a real character in the household, probably the best ride I have had, and has a home for life with us.”
The story of Sea Sabre is just one of many about the lives of Thoroughbreds after racing.